The Vic Lifehttp://theviclife.com
The Best Bits of Victoria, BCMon, 08 May 2017 15:55:47 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.1http://theviclife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/cropped-VICLIFE-LOGO-32x32.pngThe Vic Lifehttp://theviclife.com
3232Mother’s Day Giveaway: Free Local Flowers All Summerhttp://theviclife.com/mothers-day-giveaway-free-local-flowers-all-summer/
http://theviclife.com/mothers-day-giveaway-free-local-flowers-all-summer/#respondSat, 06 May 2017 21:09:58 +0000http://theviclife.com/?p=1088Read More]]>When four Victoria friends found their yards overflowing with dahlias last summer, they had a bright idea: why not start an urban flower farm?

A year later, City Fields Flower Farm is in full swing and is launching a flower subscription service for the months of July, August and September.

Here’s how it works: sign up for a weekly or bi-weekly bouquet for the 13-week growing season and pick up your freshly cut dahlias at one of three local pickup locations on Thursdays (Cornerstone Café in Fernwood, Discovery Coffee’s Discovery Street location and a flower plot in Vic West.)

“It’s based off the community-supported agriculture (CSA) model, where people sign up in advance for a set amount of time, which allows the farmers the startup capital to set up in the spring and plan for the demand,” says Carina Foran, one of the flower farmers.

Three sizes of bouquets accommodate different budgets. A medium bouquet of five to seven stems costs $20 — or $140 for bi-weekly service and $260 for weekly service. Bonus: vase service is included, so your dahlias are ready to display when you pick them up.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, The Vic Life and City Fields Flower Farm have teamed up to give away a bi-weekly medium subscription to one lucky reader. For details on how to enter, visit our Facebook page or Instagram feed — or both to double your chances!

The bouquets will showcase more than 30 varieties of dahlias, but also feature flowers like snapdragons, sweet peas, scabiosa and lupins.

Why the focus on dahlias? Well, a) they’re beautiful b) there are tons of unique varieties and c) they last for a long time as cut flowers (typically five to seven days).

The gardeners include a librarian, a PhD graduate, a professional landscaper and a non-profit worker. Flower plots are located in their backyards and even in the backyards of some friendly neighbours.

The farmers of City Fields Flower Farm. “Last year, we all had dahlias growing in our respective backyards and they were overflowing and we were just like: ‘We should start a flower farm.’ “

“We see this also as a community-building initiative,” Foran says. “We support local vegetables so why don’t we also support local flowers?”

The flowers are grown with no sprays or pesticides in compost-fed soil.

“What makes us really unique is that we’re hyper-local so you can get flowers that you can’t get at the florists. Most flowers are flown in from all over the world. We’re able to offer unique varieties that you aren’t able to get at a wholesaler.”

On top of offering flower subscriptions, you’ll also find the folks from City Fields Flower Farm at the FernFest artisan market on June 17 and they’re on the hunt for a local florist to carry their hyper-local bouquets.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift, this one is hard to top.

“It’s like the gift that keeps giving,” Foran says.

Bonus: The first 10 people to subscribe by May 15th will get a large bouquet for the price of a medium. Just use the promo code “SPRINGFLOWERS.”

Thankfully, there’s light on the horizon. No, not actual warmth, but Dine Around — an excuse for locals to get out of their jammies and hit the town for some ridiculously good grub.

Here’s how it works: dozens of Victoria’s top restaurants offer special three-course menus for $20, $30, $40 or $50 between Feb. 17 and March 5.

The trick is studying the menus and planning ahead to hit as many of the top spots as possible (resos highly recommended). Fear not, we’ve done the grunt work for you.

Here are our Top 10 picks for Dine Around 2017.

1) Varsha

We’ve been meaning to try Varsha, at the corner of Pandora and Government, for a while now — and this casual eatery’s $20 Dine Around menu might just get us in the door. We’d go for the veg pakoras, butter chicken poutine and gulab jamun (doughnuts with sweet red rose syrup) in a heartbeat.

A post shared by Varsha Indian Kitchen (@varshayyj) on Feb 17, 2017 at 9:38pm PST

2) Heron Rock Bistro

Heron Rock in James Bay is a quiet, undersung workhorse — always good in a surprising-again way, and yet, after all the years of being there, it’s often overlooked. What better time to re-connect with an old gem than during Dine Around? Menu options in the $30 category are plentiful — including Dungeness crab and shrimp fritters to start, beef short rib bourguignon for the main show and vanilla crème brulee for dessert. Mmmm, we’re salivating just thinking about it.

3) Table 21

We have a confession to make: Table 21 made this list based purely on Instagram photos. Just look …

4) Church & State Wines

We’ve been wanting to check out out Church & State Wines for a while and Dine Around is just the excuse we needed to head out to Brentwood Bay. Their $40 menu options include warm almond-crusted island brie, pan-seared island ling cod or African-spiced lamb shank, and finishes off with lemon and vanilla panna cotta.

5) Smugglers’ Cove

This neighbourhood pub earns a nod in the $20 category this year, with its generous menu options, including tuna tataki as a starter, roasted leg of lamb or coconut curry prawn rice bowl as a main and raspberry panna cotta for dessert. It’s not somewhere we visit often, but Dine Around makes for a good excuse for an outing to Cadboro Bay — and it’s hard to go wrong for $20.

6) Aura at the Inn at Laurel Point

Aura is one of those places we often forget about because it’s kind of in the tourist zone — however, it’s most definitely worth a visit. The waterfront restaurant’s $30 menu includes the option of a kalbi glazed flat iron steak or seared lingcod with root vegetables, watercress and puffed wild rice. For dessert? Pick between white chocolate, lychee and cream cheese mousse or cocoa & coffee pot de crème.

7) Artisan Bistro

This French-inspired bistro in Broadmead Village is an exciting new addition to Dine Around this year, with menus in the $40 and $50 categories. Here’s a taste of the $50 menu: Moroccan-spiced calamari, wild sockeye salmon with pan fried gnocchi, house ricotta, almond butter, wild mushrooms and maple soy glaze, finishing with crepes suzette with vanilla and orange syrup, brandy and Chantilly cream.

8) Agrius

Agrius, by the good folks at Fol Epi, is getting in on the Dine Around fun this year with a $30 lunch and dinner menu and $40 and $50 dinner menus. With a nod from Air Canada’s En Route Magazine as one of the best new restaurants in Canada in 2016, Agrius is definitely on the must-hit list. The $30 menu includes pork and mushroom soup, duck confit and macarons for dessert.

9) The Ruby

The Ruby at Hotel Zed has been turning heads with its breakfast menu, but here’s a chance to branch out into its dinner offerings. Their $30 comfort food menu includes rotisserie chicken soup, BBQ beef brisket with smoked mac and cheese and Yonni’s donut holes.

10) Nourish

We love Nourish all year long, but we’ll take an extra excuse to pop in. The $30 menu features roasted beet and carrot soup, flat iron steak and cashew cheesecake. And their Instagram feed is drool-worthy.

Have you tried out any Dine Around menus yet? Share your recommendations in the comments below!

Main image via Nourish

]]>http://theviclife.com/10-picks-for-dine-around-2017/feed/0Love Fernwood Bites? Meet Fernwood Lights (Win tickets!)http://theviclife.com/love-fernwood-bites-meet-fernwood-lights-win-tickets/
http://theviclife.com/love-fernwood-bites-meet-fernwood-lights-win-tickets/#respondSat, 12 Nov 2016 17:36:32 +0000http://theviclife.com/?p=1052Read More]]>It’s no secret Fernwood Bites is one of Victoria’s standout events of the year: it’s a blissful mix of eats, drinks and hob nob in one of the city’s most cherished neighbourhoods. Our only gripe? Waiting the 12 long months until it rolls around again.

Not anymore. It’s as if event organizer Fernwood NRG heard our whining and answered the call with a whole new event to fill the gap.

On Sunday, November 27, the first-ever Fernwood Lights illuminates Fernwood Village. The wintry celebration is a foodie love letter to its springtime cousin. While Fernwood Bites is all short sleeves and sultry temps, Fernwood Lights is inky skies and twinkly bulbs — and a magical way to kick off the mitten and scarf season.

Ticket-holders can sink their teeth into appies from favourites like Stage Wine Bar, Fernwood Inn, Aubergine Specialty Foods, Cornerstone Café, Hungry Rooster and Norte Street Food. Sips include a mini-cocktail by Victoria Distillers, seasonal beer and sodas from Phillips Brewery, and local wine by Storied Wines & Spirits. There’ll be steaming hot cider to keep the chill at bay, along with tasty tea from Silk Road.

While yummy food and drink are main events, this gig’s also about the lights. Expect a few sparkly surprises to make things extra special (no spoilers, but we’re not ruling out some laser action).

The indoor/outdoor event is stacked with other goodies including live entertainment, a silent auction, tarot readings, and a showcase of artisan vendors. It’s your chance to get a jump on ethical holiday gifts from local artists and jewelers. Take in the sweet choral sounds of performers from the Belfry Theatre’s This Little Light production under the gazebo, or cozy up to an acoustic set inside the Fernwood Inn. Parents who don’t want to miss out can opt for by-minimum-donation childcare at the Fernwood Community Centre (limited spaces; advance sign-up required).

Spend any length of time in Victoria, and you’ll know debut events in this city tend to be pretty darn special — another reason not to miss out on this one.

The feel-good kicker? The event is a fundraiser, with all proceeds returned to the community and the stellar work of the Fernwood NRG. So go ahead: sip, slurp and swill with abandon.

Come hang with us in Fernwood Village!The Vic Life is giving away two tickets to Fernwood Lights via Facebook and Instagram. Head on over for your chance to win.

]]>http://theviclife.com/love-fernwood-bites-meet-fernwood-lights-win-tickets/feed/05 Things You Need to Know About Modohttp://theviclife.com/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-modo/
http://theviclife.com/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-modo/#commentsMon, 07 Nov 2016 03:07:14 +0000http://theviclife.com/?p=1044Read More]]>When I moved to the West Coast from Calgary six years ago, I left my little 2001 Volkswagen Golf TDI on the other side of the Rockies.

A photo posted by The Vic Life (@thevictorialife) on Oct 24, 2016 at 10:23am PDT

So without further ado, here are five things you need to know about Modo and car sharing.

1) It’s super convenient.

Once you sign up for Modo, you get a key fob that gives you access to 40 cars all over the city (and 500 more in the Lower Mainland) — cars, trucks, sports cars, you name it.

The cars live in specific locations and you pick them up and return them to the same spot. (Check out this handy dandy map to find cars near you.)

You can book online or via the smartphone app. In my hood (Fernwood), I have five cars within a five-minute walk from my house and I can almost always book a car when I need one (even at the last minute).

There are two different rate plans, depending on whether you purchase shares or not, but generally speaking a trip to, say, Hillside Mall for a couple hours will cost about $12. A trip to the airport and back would also cost about $12.

A photo posted by The Vic Life (@thevictorialife) on May 27, 2016 at 4:00pm PDT

2) It’ll save you thousands of dollars a year.

In 2013, the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) found yearly ownership costs for an average compact car are about $9,500. That’s nearly double the $5,400 a year the average Canadian spends on groceries, according to Statistics Canada.

What most of us forget to factor in when thinking about the cost of car ownership is the cost of depreciation — not only are you making car payments, paying insurance and doling out cash for those pesky repair bills, but that car in your driveway is going down in value every day.

The magic of Modo is you only pay for a car when you need it — no hassles, no stress.

Even if I used a car on my every whim, I figure I’d have a hard time racking up $100 a month in Modo fees.

3) It makes you less lazy.

If you have a car sitting in the driveway, you often drive it even when you don’t need to. The thing with Modo is it makes your default option not driving. And that’s kinda cool — and forces you to stay active even in the dark winter months.

Sure, sometimes you have a bad day and it’s raining and you still want to go to yoga and you decide to treat yourself and pay a big ole $8 to shuttle your lazy ass to class. And that’s okay too.

4) It’s part of the booming sharing economy.

There are lots of signs that our world is moving toward a preference for having access to things without the burdens of ownership.

Car use is declining in North America and us young(ish) folks are ditching car ownership. In a recent Vancity poll, 22 per cent of Vancouver millenials said they’ve given up car ownership to save money. In Greater Victoria, more than 1,500 people are members of Modo.

Sign up through Gensqueeze, a national campaign working to ease the squeeze on young Canadians, and get $50 of free drive time. Just use the code GENSQUEEZE

5) It’s good for the environment

Buying less stuff is always better for the environment. But in this case, giving up car ownership (or your household’s second car) is also likely to make you choose active modes of transportation more often. Less miles=less oil.

Plus, one in five Modo cars is a hybrid or electric vehicle.

What’s not to like?

If you have questions, please ask away. I’m a Modo Ambassador and love to talk all things car sharing (and money saving)!

The loft is Langham’s epic one-stop costume rental shop that’s open to the public. In the run-up to Halloween, you best get there early.

Entrance to the Langham Court Theatre Costume Loft.

Located on the second floor of the community theatre in Rockland, the loft is part coveted closet, part dreamy dress-up attic and costumers’ workshop. It’s a cozy space jam-packed with racks of costumes organized by era, theme and colour. Feather boas and period hats festoon the shelves, and foxy corsets and graphic neckties spill from the more than 400 prop and costume boxes lining the walls.

The cozy ‘attic’ space.

“People come to the top of the stairs and say ‘we had no idea this was here,’” says Costume Loft manager Lisa Leighton. “They’re just gobsmacked.”

The evolving collection includes more than 10,000 items acquired through Langham shows and private donation, ranging from complete costumes to era-specific separates, along with a huge array of accessories: shoes, hats, wigs, jewellery, furs, masks and more. Need some snazzy bloomers? Maybe a spare sombrero or British bobby’s helmet? Yep. All here.

Solutions for Carmen Miranda wannabes and plumage seekers.

Hats and booties booty.

Two spunky volunteers—Daphne Massey (aka Captain Jack Sparrow) and Elaine Kilpatrick (aka Oktoberfest babe)—are decked out for my visit. ‘Enthusiastic’ doesn’t do them justice. I’m barely in the door before they’re trading the ‘Arr mateys!’ and clinking beer steins. “Volunteers make the place go,” Lisa tells me. “And they’re the heart and soul of Langham.”

Good-time volunteers Elaine Kilpatrick (L) and Daphne Massey (R).

While some costume hunters know exactly what they’re after, most don’t have a clue where to start. That’s where staff jumps in to assist with the options and decision-making (say, deducing whether that mermaid costume is a practical choice for your Cuban salsa party). Like the best personal shoppers, they help to source elusive pieces and pull together authentic head-to-toe looks. Many have theatre experience and know just what’s in all those boxes.

Loft manager Lisa Leighton with the (blood-soaked) wares.

Rental prices are affordable and have remained largely unchanged over the past decade. The standard rental period is three weeks, but at Halloween it’s extended to six weeks (for rentalsbefore October 22 only).

Colourful neckties.

Fabulous furs.

The loft caters to designers and the public and supports Langham’s own productions and other performing arts groups in town. Halloween may be a busy time, but renters borrow duds year-round for all kinds of occasions: holidays, dinner parties, film and TV productions, themed weddings and school shows.

Notions and haberdashery.

To die for masks.

Recent interest in the Downton Abbey series saw a run on the 1920s collections (see our Date with Downton story). Costume work is commissioned in cases where there is significant demand.

Glam hats.

Lisa tells me donning a costume has a transformative effect on even the reluctant loft visitors who get roped in by friends. “Everyone comes alive when you get them into a costume. And who doesn’t want to dress up?”

A fraction of the racks and boxes of costumes for rent.

Annual Costume Sale

Langham Court Theatre also hosts a Giant Annual Costume Sale (mark your calendar for July 16, 2017, 10-2pm). It’s the time to scoop up clothes and costumes at rock-bottom prices (and to snag fresh Burning Man gear). The event takes over the entire theatre and early birds are in line by 7 a.m. The feel-good fundraiser supports Langham programming. Sale remainders find their way to charitable partners like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria and local thrift stores.

]]>http://theviclife.com/for-rent-killer-costumes-at-langham-court-theatre/feed/15 Things to Do in Vic Before Summer Is Overhttp://theviclife.com/5-things-to-do-in-vic-before-summer-is-over/
http://theviclife.com/5-things-to-do-in-vic-before-summer-is-over/#commentsMon, 29 Aug 2016 16:14:27 +0000http://theviclife.com/?p=994Read More]]>First of all, please accept our apology for the hiatus. We got really busy with, well, loving the bejeebus out of summer. You know that feeling that you need to make the most of every last bit of sunshine? Yea, that.

Now with just a few weeks left of summer, we’ve rounded up five things we highly recommend you get out and experience before the rainy season hits.

1) Check out Victoria’s new rooftop patio The Livet

We visited The Livet last week and the space is super chic — and, frankly, unlike anything else on offer in Victoria. It’s hard to believe this spot used to be home to nothing but a drab bank.

A photo posted by The Vic Life (@thevictorialife) on Aug 25, 2016 at 9:20pm PDT

The menu is part raw bar (think scallop ceviche and albacore tuna tataki) and part charcoal barbecue (think grilled rack of lamb, chuck steak and salmon). Mix and match small plates to create a fun feast.

Owner Graham Meckling is the fella behind Stage Wine Bar in Fernwood so expect good things.

2) Go for a bike ride and swim

We love, love, love the Lochside and Galloping Goose trails. They’re totally separated from vehicle traffic and are almost totally flat thanks to their history as railway lines. The only challenge is choosing a suitable chunk of the 85 kilometre stretch to do on any given day.

One of our favourites is to start downtown and bike out to Cordova Bay for a dip in the ocean and a bite at The Beachhouse Restaurant. It’ll take you 45 minutes to an hour each way at a leisurely pace.

An alternative is to park somewhere along Happy Valley Road in Metchosin and hop on the Galloping Goose and pedal your way to Matheson Lake. It’s a beautiful stretch of trail and gets you access to the lesser used side of the lake. Pop in for a dip and then have a picnic while you dry off on the rocks. Voila!

A photo posted by The Vic Life (@thevictorialife) on Aug 15, 2016 at 2:07pm PDT

3) Visit an outside market.

You have one last chance to catch Oak Bay Night Market this year. Get yourself down to Oak Bay Avenue on Sept. 14 between 4 and 8 p.m. to see Oak Bay Village transformed into a European-style street market. You’ll find a wide range of fresh and local food and produce and artisan goods ranging from ceramics and jewelry to soap and greeting cards.

The market also features local music and a magician. Who can say no to that?

Alternatively, check out the Etsy Makers Market in Centennial Square. The last one is Sept. 4.

A photo posted by The Vic Life (@thevictorialife) on Aug 27, 2016 at 9:03pm PDT

5) Get out on the water.

We live so close to the water, but sometimes we neglect to get up close and personal with it enough.

There are lots of options for this, but our personal favourite is kayaking or paddle boarding up Tod Inlet. You can rent what you need from the dock at Brentwood Bay Resort.

After you’ve enjoyed a paddle, top off your day with a cold beverage on the patio at the pub. The view is killer. (Pssst: Monday to Thursday, they have a special paddle and pint special for $35 between 11:30 and 5:30 p.m.)

What are you dying to do to finish off summer? Tell us in the comments.

]]>http://theviclife.com/5-things-to-do-in-vic-before-summer-is-over/feed/2Six Ways to Get Artsy in Victoriahttp://theviclife.com/six-ways-to-get-artsy-in-victoria/
http://theviclife.com/six-ways-to-get-artsy-in-victoria/#respondSat, 16 Jul 2016 18:15:26 +0000http://theviclife.com/?p=982Read More]]>Victoria has long been spoiled for talented artists, creators, and makers. Now a new creative class is adding to the artsy quotient and upping the city’s game. Here are six ways to better your Victoria ‘AQ.’

1) Trounce Alley Gallery is a new addition to the historic downtown laneway that shares its name. Small and vibrant, it specializes in Canadian work that feels fresh and new. Collectible artist Timothy Wilson Hoey (best known for his iconic O-Canada series) is a gallery staple. Watch for exhibition openings and pop-ups — they tend to be packed, friendly and a good spot to mingle. Conveniently, the gallery is paces away from Bodega Bar where the colourful tapas are like art on a plate. Try a flight of the specialty sherries that come topped with bowls of savoury pinchos.

2) If there’s one event to put on your art calendar, the 29th Annual TD Art Gallery Paint-In (July 16) is it. Part epic street festival, part juried exhibition, it’s also a showcase of Victoria’s community spirit (think front-yard barbecues and lemonade stands). Sculptors, painters and photographers line the ten blocks from Fort Street to the Dallas Road waterfront, while a beer garden, music and dancing round out the fun. The event attracts more than 35,000 visitors each year. Moss Street Market is the perfect place to pit stop for fresh bites and organic produce.

3) If it’s not already on your radar, small but mighty Polychrome Fine Art should be. Located in the Fort Street corridor, there’s always something going on in the space (and on its walls). Put the upcoming show by award-winning Lincoln Clarkes on your calendar (August 4-18). To date, the Vancouver-based photographer’s lens has settled on Burning Man festival, Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Texan women with their guns.

4) Those who want to get hands-on head for Poppet Creative in the Oaklands neighbourhood. The new storefront studio offers art classes, workshops and retreats in a huge range of mediums: from printmaking to leatherwork, street art to weaving. Poppet hosts drop-in events, artist talks and artisanal wares for purchase, too.

5) If you haven’t been, The Makehouse, helmed by former fashion industry maven Jenny Ambrose, is a studio-shop with an educational bent dedicated to all things sewing and textiles. Check out the workshops, clothing swaps and maker camps for kids.

6) Integrate Arts Festival (August 26-28) celebrates Victoria’s small galleries, artist-run centres and alternative arts with an annual art crawl. ‘Crawlers’ are encouraged to explore by bike, foot and public transit using the festival map. This year’s 10th anniversary edition features a family-friendly bike tour and evening shuttle to participating venues. Better still? The crawl is free.

]]>http://theviclife.com/six-ways-to-get-artsy-in-victoria/feed/0On the hunt for big trees? Let Daytrip Drea be your guidehttp://theviclife.com/big-trees-daytrip-drea/
http://theviclife.com/big-trees-daytrip-drea/#respondWed, 13 Jul 2016 10:55:07 +0000http://theviclife.com/?p=967Read More]]>“Looks like we’re the only ones here,” Drea Gibson says, switching off the engine of her 1994 Mitsubishi Delica turbo-diesel Spacegear L400. As the dogs clamour for the doors, we three passengers grab our daypacks and tumble out behind. We’re standing in a rough cul-de-sac carved off the side of a logging road a half-hour’s drive (or so) from Port Renfrew. Safe to say, even if we had managed to find our way here without our guide, our car likely would not have made it out in one piece.

We leave the van and turn up the road toward the thickening woods. Within a few steps, the trailhead verges off to the right, barely visible beside a rickety sign on which Red Creek Fir is scrawled in flaking red paint. We veer into the dense undergrowth and follow the steady incline, pushing through lush mounds of ferns before the trail widens into a more proper path.

En route to the Red Creek Fir, with guide Drea Gibson in the lead. Photo by Julia Kilpatrick.

We’re barely winded by the time the trail stops abruptly at the base of the monolithic tree. The legendary Red Creek Fir looms an easy 25 storeys overhead, supported by a foundation nearly 14 feet across. It’s considered the world’s largest Douglas Fir, yet it stands as unobtrusive as a tree of its size could — its significance marked only by a weathered, hand-carved sign identifying it as a “proposed B.C. heritage tree.”

Standing in the shadow of the ancient canopy brings back a feeling I’ve often found in quiet moments high in the alpine or at the edge of the ocean: the certainty that every single worry, fear or ambition I hold is irrelevant in the scale of time that nature operates on.

It’s a feeling that’s becoming familiar here in the forests of the San Juan valley. Over the course of the day, Drea introduces us to the gnarled cedars of Avatar Grove and a stately Sitka spruce — trees she has come to love in the years since she first started leading trips into the woods.

“Daytrip” Drea Gibson in Avatar Grove. Photo by Julia Kilpatrick.

“It really started with wanting to help people get out of the rat race,” she says when I ask her what inspired her business. She was about to quit her job at a backpackers’ hostel in Victoria when she tossed out a compromise: she was done with the graveyard shift, but willing to take tourists on guided daytrips if there was enough interest. That proposal led to a regular gig, and earned her the title “Daytrip” Drea.

The name stuck — and so did the business concept. By 2008, Drea enrolled in a business course and the year later, she went out on her own.

“It just all made sense,” she says, looking back. She was frequently taking out friends and acquaintances in her free time, doing hikes and camping trips. “Why not take people out who might not do it on their own?”

It took about four years to build the business to the point where that’s all she was doing in the summers, and Drea still supplements her income in the off-season by working at a lodge in Port Renfrew and scouting film locations around Vancouver Island. Now clients come to her from as far afield as Europe.

Drea Gibson’s Mitsubishi Delica van is dwarfed by the San Juan spruce, one of the more readily accessible old-growth giants of the San Juan valley.

The business isn’t the only thing that’s been changing lately.

“Pretty sure I’m the only wilderness guide with a breast pump in my lunch bag,” she says wryly, adding that the arrival of her son this spring did require some adjustments to her lifestyle as a guide. But becoming a mother, she says, also brought a new dimension to her love of the big trees and the lands that sustain them. “I definitely want my boy to grow up and see all this.”

The Lowdown

– On May 31, 2016, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution calling for the protection of old-growth forests where they present an economic opportunity for communities like Port Renfrew, where big-tree tourism has become a significant draw. Learn more here.

– Daytrip Drea offers guided dayhikes, overnight excursions and more on Vancouver Island and around the coast. For more information, see daytripdrea.com.

]]>http://theviclife.com/big-trees-daytrip-drea/feed/0Vancouver Island’s First Tea Farm Debutshttp://theviclife.com/vancouver-island-tea-farm/
http://theviclife.com/vancouver-island-tea-farm/#respondWed, 29 Jun 2016 16:15:15 +0000http://theviclife.com/?p=977Read More]]>A life-long love of tea has taken me to some of my favourite exotic landscapes: the Zomba plateau (Malawi); the lush interior hills of Sri Lanka (Ceylon); south India’s Western Ghats; and the misty Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling.

While it’s the exact same plant (Camellia sinensis) that blankets these and so many other hills from China to South America, each region boasts a distinctive flavour due only partly to differences in processing. Like fine wine, the subtle aroma and flavour of your favourite cuppa owes much to the “terroir” – the soil – from which it grows.

Very soon – Canada Day weekend, in fact – a brand new terroir will be introduced to the world of tea, and in a seemingly unlikely place: the Cowichan Valley.

Nestled in the lush, forested folds of Vancouver Island the Westholme Tea Farm will be debuting its first flush Spring harvest tea from bushes planted by proprietors Victor Vesely and Margit Nellemann in 2010. While waiting for those to mature they renovated a ramshackle barn into a tea room to sell organic teas brought in from around the world, as well as a studio and gallery space for Margit’s whimsical pottery art.

Pottery for sale at Westholme Tea Farm. Photo by Lisa Matthaus.

I have deliberately timed many trips up or down Island to put me just north of Duncan around tea time. It’s the perfect excuse (should you need one) to stop by the Tea Farm for a pot of tea chosen from the dozens available, a tea-inspired treat to go with it and to replenish my growing loose-tea collection at home.

A hot Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks back was the perfect backdrop for a White Blossom iced-tea and homemade rhubarb and jasmine tea sorbet. The combo might be a bit too floral for some, like consuming a bouquet, but I loved it!

This Canada Day weekend, Margit and Victor will be welcoming tea lovers from near and far to taste the first commercially grown organic tea in Canada! Reserve your spot, or just stop by any other Wednesday to Sunday to explore the world in a cup.

This community fundraiser features the best food and drink Victoria has to offer in the charming setting of Fernwood Square.

The Vic Life is giving away two tickets to Fernwood Bites via Facebook and Instagram, so mosey on over there for your chance to win.

Here are five reasons we can’t get enough of this event.

1) It’s intimate.

Only 350 tickets are sold each year, creating an intimate setting prime for hob-knobbing with local restaurant owners, distillers and wine-makers.

2) It’s all-inclusive

Tickets ($65) include all the food and beverage samples you can handle (none of this buy a ticket and then buy tokens for samples business). Better yet, all of the money raised funds Fernwood NRG’s awesome programs, such as the Fernwood Family Dinner and neighbourhood orchard.

3) It just keeps getting better.

This year’s event is set to be better than ever, with exciting new restaurants taking part — including Northern Quarter, Nourish, The Guild, Dak, the Salt and Pepper Fox and the debut of The Livet (a very exciting new charcoal grill and rooftop patio opening downtown this summer).

4) The impressive array of local bevvies.

We’re looking forward to trying three local gins in one place: Ampersand, Sheringham and Victoria Distillers. Tod Creek, Merridale and Sea Cider will all be serving up their yum ciders. For beer, you’ll find Hoyne, Phillips, Category 12 and Spinnakers. And lest we forget our favourite form of grapes, Unsworth, Blue Grouse, Nichol, Moraine Estate, Volcanic Hills, Hidden Chapel and Lock & Worth will have you covered on the wine front.

5) It’s about more than food and drinks.

We have a feeling all that food and booze will keep us busy, but if you can find chance to sneak away, there are behind-the-scenes tours of The Belfry at 6 and 7 p.m. Plus, a silent auction will feature some incredible items like the amazing Toque Catering’s personal chef service for a three-course dinner for six (valued at $600). The best part? it’s all for a great cause, so you can go ahead and indulge guilt-free.

Tickets sell out for Fernwood Bites every year, so if your taste buds are tingling, go snag your tickets right now or risk disappointment.